Where Is Everyone?

[fishinwrench]

Why is the place where your son works calling it quits, if the local economy and traffic is fine like the folks at Weaver's say it is ? I understand that it could effect people you know if the general reputation of the BSP area is tarnished, but is it reasonable to expect those that are displeased to keep quiet about it in order to protect the economy there ? This situation hits home for me mostly because I am watching the way the big-money folks in MY area are sidestepping the issues we have at Lake Ozark, in order to keep the overall cash flow from taking too big of a hit.

Yes the Flooding hurt the Trout last year but as far as losing Large Numbers they didn't.There was some problems with the fish but its clearing up this year and if a person didn't know what they was looking for they would have never noticed.

How did the flooding hurt the trout if they didn't loose many fish, and the "other problems" were insignificant ?

I don't believe the problem is fish health or fish density[/] at BSP. I think the issue with BSP (and the state parks in general) is greed and corruption.

So if my livelyhood was dependant on the economy of the BSP area I would address THAT, rather than hoping folks won't speak truthfully about their experiences there.

I mean hell, you yourself don't like to fish there, and you're even fixin' to pull up stakes and move.

[laker67]

I got some good news for you, fishinwrench. I checked out the stream cam about an hour ago and I counld'nt see a thing. That means you can fish today with no worries. People will continue to fish bssp no matter what. It's disappointing to have these down years, but you make do. I complain the loudest, but continue to make the best of what we are offered.

[oneshot]

Why is the place where your son works calling it quits, if the local economy and traffic is fine like the folks at Weaver's say it is ? I understand that it could effect people you know if the general reputation of the BSP area is tarnished, but is it reasonable to expect those that are displeased to keep quiet about it in order to protect the economy there ? This situation hits home for me mostly because I am watching the way the big-money folks in MY area are sidestepping the issues we have at Lake Ozark, in order to keep the overall cash flow from taking too big of a hit.

How did the flooding hurt the trout if they didn't loose many fish, and the "other problems" were insignificant ?

I don't believe the problem is fish health or fish density[/] at BSP. I think the issue with BSP (and the state parks in general) is greed and corruption.

So if my livelyhood was dependant on the economy of the BSP area I would address THAT, rather than hoping folks won't speak truthfully about their experiences there.

I mean hell, you yourself don't like to fish there, and you're even fixin' to pull up stakes and move.

I think one thing that is hurting some of the Outfitters is the Larger ones are pushing the Smaller ones out.At least thats whats going on where my Son works.I know last year their Rafts were in Bad shape they didn't have the money to fix them right so I went got stuff for a cheaper fix to get them through the season.

I don't fish the Park because of cost of Day Permit and don't like the closness of the Park.As far as flooding hurting the fish I was down there checking durring the Flood and afterwards.I an't saying they didn't lose some fish but not numbers some are talking about.Yes they were weakend,a person could see the stress in coloration but I haven't noticed any this season.

As far as numbers and size I'm just going by the river it will run hot and cold as far as the bite with clarity and level but that is fishing.Size you can fish one week catch nothing but Smaller Fish go down next and catch nothing but Big Fish.For the most part I've only seen Large fish the year.

Now as far as money in the Parks.Jim has gotten the Bid every year for the last several years but in time with age he will be gone and there will be change.But he doesn't have anything to do with the fish but the people that do are working with budget cuts and still trying to keep quality and numbers.

As far as Camera maybe it was a bad idea they just thought people would want to see without leaving their home what is going on at their favorite stream.

Hey we still have it better than some places in the country I'm still reeling from a horrible Turkey Season hopping it will get better if it don't I'll still be out there trying.

Far as me moving this has been going on for years and I probably won't.The River I was Baptized there and when I die my Ashes will be thrown into it.I'm sure fishing will be much better afterwards

Have a Good One!

oneshot

[Greg]

I was down at Bennett Spring 10 days ago (4/27-4/28) during the middle of the week (cool weather and a bit Breezy). I agree that there appears to be less fish than in the mid-summer, but remember - they stock based on average permit sales based on the last several years. There were also definitely less people there than normal, but the fishing was absolutely great.

I fished only Zone-1, started at the head of the island then fished down to the big pool above the hatchery dam (twice) - caught more than 2 dozen fish in about 3 hours. Took a break for lunch then after lunch went upstream and started fishing just below the Holland (rock) dam - caught 15 fish in less than 45 minutes in the fast water, then proceeded to move downstream and caught another 15-20 over the next 2 hours. Day #2 I did almost the same thing and the only difference is that I caught even MORE fish - ended up catching well over 100 fish over the 2 days.

I was also down at Bennett about 3 weeks before that during early April for 2 days (4/8-4/9) during the middle of the week (you just cannot get me down there on a weekend) and again the fishing was pretty good - on those 2 days I caught more than 80 fish while fishing all the areas in Zone-1.

Now I am not sure what equipment y'all are using nor what flies/lures you are fishing, but if you fish dark flies and fish them deep, the fish were more than willing to bite. The other folks I saw doing well were those swinging small wet soft-hackle flies, also those fishing very small white flies (like a mini-crackleback) in the afternoons - they were just knocking them dead on the topwater. I also talked to a couple of guys who had been fishing in Zone-2 and they had caught limits in less than 30 minutes fishing John Deere micro-jigs mid-zone above the hatchery outlet.

Now I am not saying that the fishing is the best it has ever been, nor am I saying that they have not had some periods where the stockers have been a little smaller than what we all like to catch - but I did catch more than a dozen that ran over 1.5 lbs including one that was well over 2 lbs. However, to say the fishing it terrible and there are no fish? Not hardly!!!!

That's a great report Terry. I think I may sneak down there next week.

Thanks,

Greg

[FlyFishinFool]

That's a great report Terry. I think I may sneak down there next week.

Thanks,

Greg

Who is Terry? Sure ain't me! ;-)

[snagged in outlet 3]

Hey Flyfishinfool

Greg thinks your Terry Beason because you have the same avatar.

SIO3

[Greg]

Hey Flyfishinfool

Greg thinks your Terry Beason because you have the same avatar.

SIO3

Yep that was it exactly. Sorry about that and thanks for the great report regardless.

Greg

[FlyFishinFool]

No problem. I have been using that avatar for years on several forums - did not know someone else was using it.

As I stated, I am sure there are less fish at Bennett Spring, but there have also been a lot less people fishing as well.

Most mornings, there were only a few people fishing at the whistle, and even less by 9AM or so until the late morning folks came in around 10:30-11:00AM.

Often I could fish a section of the stream, then wade back upsream and re-fish the same section since there was no one else fishing within 100+ yards.

Of course, when the sun warms up and the rain/wind disappears, then there were more folks, but it simply was not crowded at all.

I guess that is the upside of the issue about people not being happy with Bennett Spring - less crowds for those of us who find fishing just fine!

[Greg]

No problem. I have been using that avatar for years on several forums - did not know someone else was using it.

As I stated, I am sure there are less fish at Bennett Spring, but there have also been a lot less people fishing as well.

Most mornings, there were only a few people fishing at the whistle, and even less by 9AM or so until the late morning folks came in around 10:30-11:00AM.

Often I could fish a section of the stream, then wade back upsream and re-fish the same section since there was no one else fishing within 100+ yards.

Of course, when the sun warms up and the rain/wind disappears, then there were more folks, but it simply was not crowded at all.

I guess that is the upside of the issue about people not being happy with Bennett Spring - less crowds for those of us who find fishing just fine!

I agree with your upside. Reading this thread actually makes me want to go to Bennett all the more. I'm all for less people. Bennett is a beautiful place to fish except for the crowds. I've had many, many 50 or 60 fish days there with high crowds - but I'd gladly swap that for a lot fewer fish if that means less people and more solitude.

Greg

[fishinwrench]

I agree with your upside. Reading this thread actually makes me want to go to Bennett all the more. I'm all for less people. Bennett is a beautiful place to fish except for the crowds. I've had many, many 50 or 60 fish days there with high crowds - but I'd gladly swap that for a lot fewer fish if that means less people and more solitude.

Greg

Well enjoy it while it lasts. They've generated a pretty big overhead these days, so without the big crowds they'll go belly-up ....and so will the trout per mile percentage.